Zayn Malik Breaks Silence: I Feel Like I Let One Direction Fans Down

After announcing that he's leaving One Direction earlier this week, the 22-year-old broke his silence on Friday, revealing to the British newspaper The Sun why it was time to leave the beloved boy band.

"I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of other people's happiness," he tells The Sun. "It is crazy and wild and a bit mad, but at the same time I've never felt more in control in my life. And I feel like I'm doing what's right – right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good."

He also adds that his fiance Perrie Edwards is "very supportive" about his decision.

That being said, the 22-year-old singer does admit that he feels a little guilt for leaving One Direction behind. "I feel like I've let the fans down but I can't do this anymore," Malik continues. "It's not that I've turned my back on them or anything, it's just that I just can't do that anymore because it's not the real me."

So what's next for this former boy band member? Malik, who seen leaving a recording studio just a day after he announced he was leaving 1D, confirmed to the publication (via People) that he is working on a solo project alongside producer Naughty Boy (a.k.a. Shahid Khan), who's worked with Sam Smith. He also revealed that he's trying out rapping. Say what?!